Grace Needs to Be Received and Lived Out, Not Just Placed on An Instagram Bio
Grace. It’s easy to find a cute saying on grace and put it in your Instagram bio. But what happens when you fall back into sin?
What happens when you screw up again? What happens when you keep messing up, you are now in a deep hole of guilt, shame, and regret? How is that cutesy grace saying providing you the peace you need?
Friends, let’s look at how the bible defines grace instead of what pinterest says grace is.
In Romans 3:20-24 it explains grace perfectly, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Let me break it down simply to you.
Nobody is worthy or righteous because we have all sinned.
But because Jesus came and lived a perfect sacrificial life, we are aware of how righteous and perfect God is.
We are righteous and worthy BECAUSE of our faith in Jesus Christ, denying ourselves because we are sinners.
There is no difference between anyone because we are all sinners. And because all sin is looked at equally, there is absolutely no difference in our worth. (aka, your value is the same as those girls you compare yourself to. She is a sinner, unworthy, and completely dependent on Jesus just like you are.)
Because of this faith we freely receive, His grace is lavished upon us and covering every single one of our sins.
Now let me clarify, there is nothing wrong with a cute lil’ pinterest quote. But let’s allow scripture be the anchor of truth in our life, not a quote. Because the reality is, scripture is deep,foundational, and doesn’t change. A quote can go in one ear and out the other. Let us desire truth that soaks into the seeds that God has planted in our foundation. Let us water those seeds day in day out and through the constant reminder of TRUTH will bring blooming fruitful fruit.
Okay Rach, cool. Grace is cool.
Let’s fast forward to when you are in that guilt filled- hopeless place.
Grace has covered you. You not only have been forgiven for what you have done, but you have been given grace to continue on. God is not holding this against you, He loves you. Yep, it doesn’t make sense whatsoever, so stop trying to make sense of it.
I hear a lot of, “I just feel this disconnect with the Lord” or “I feel so far from Him.”
Friend, let me share something with you. Jesus died on the cross not because you asked Him to, but because the Father asked Him to FOR YOU. He did this so that the Father COULD have a way to you. The reality is, God hates sin. HATES it. But because Jesus actually became sin and then defeated it, sin is dead. Sin has absolutely no power now. Jesus came to reconcile you to the Father. Jesus has the power and authority now. Which means you have the power and authority now.
Probably my favorite verse ever is, Romans 8:1, “therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Do you see the connection to all of this? Do you see why you actually aren’t allowed to feel shameful or guilty?
Because Jesus died on the cross, you are completely justified from all your sin. You do not need to feel shameful for what you have done, Jesus has covered it. Grace has been given to you and now you get to walk in the freedom that God is freely given you.
Now the biggest part of all of this: Receiving it.
This grace and forgiveness has already been given to us whether we like or not, but if you choose to keep playing the victim and throwing yourself a pity party to what you have done, you are saying what Jesus did on the cross isn’t enough.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 says,“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Something the Lord has brought me through recently is the reality that His grace IS enough. It will never make sense to me so I need to stop making excuses for why it shouldn’t. We like to self disqualify ourselves all the time in so many areas of our life. If we’re used to having this perspective about ourselves, why would we look at grace any differently?
I think this goes back to the point about denying ourselves. Admitting that: yes, we do fall short and do not deserve it. But He chooses us and chooses to lavish it upon us, FREELY.
The enemy wants you to feel bad for what you have done, but I’m here to remind you of the truth that you do not have to.
Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Let me just release the pressure from you: Nothing you can do will be too much for God to fix. Because friend, you do not carry that much power. God is sovereign over all, which means He has the final say. He has the final authority. Take comfort in that He works all things for His good. ALL THINGS.
So how do we go about walking out this whole grace thing?
Let’s get in the conscious habit of ACCEPTING and RECEIVING his grace even if we feel like we don’t deserve it. Let’s get in the habit of doing this and turning to what scripture says about this instead of what our feelings are telling us.
Be in the word. Pray a simple repentance prayer, and move the heck on. He loves you so dang much.